Hood catch



Sept. 6, 1932 v MOORE 1,875,880

HOOD CATCH "Filed April 16, 1931' IN V EN TOR. F9 YM ONE 6 Mod/Pa:

BY X7:-Jv

A TTORNEY Patented Sept. 6, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE- RAYMOND G. MOORE, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE BASSICK COM- PANY, OF BRIDGEPOR-T, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT HOOD CATCH Application filed April 16,

The present invention relates to improvements in hood catches, particularly for automobiles, and has for an object to provide a catch disposed at the inside of the hood and having an operating handle at the outside, which will effectually hold the hood downwardly and inwardly, and may be operated to engaged or disengaged relation with a minimum of effort. It has been found that, because of variations in the mounting of the keeper bar on the automobile frame, and the mounting of the catch device on the hood, the engaging angle varied between them, and it is proposed in the present invention to provide a catch device in which an inclined keeper engaging means is provided which will remain at the same angle in any position of relative movement of the device, so that its operative and functional relation with respect to the keeper bar remains constant, despite variations in the mounting.

With the above and other objects in view, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing and this embodiment will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the inventionwill be fin ally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a hood catch, according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention disclosed herein, the hood to which it is attached being shown in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the catch engaged with the keeper bar, the hood being shown in vertical section.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the catch .in operative relation with the keeper bar, the hood being shown in horizontal section.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, the hood catch, comprises a sheet metal bracket plate having a slot 11 adapted to register with a slot 12 in the hood 13, and adapted to be secured to the inner side of the hood, as by rivets 14. Parallel side plates or ears 15-15 are bent 1931. Serial no. 530,519.

edges of the plate 10.

inwardly at right angles from the vertical I A lever member comprising a handle portion 16, disposed exteriorly of the hood, a box portion 17 and an arm portion 18,'disposed interiorly of the hood, is pivotallymounted within the bracket upon a transverse pin 19 the lower ends of its side portions, which project below said arm portion, with a. crosspin 22 having its ends 'slidably engaged in arcuate slots 28 provided in the'side plates 15'.

Within the box portion 171a coil spring 24 is disposed about the cross-pin 19 and has itsend extended into the arm 18 beneath the pin 21- to constantly urge the lever and the keeper engaging member upwardly, the upward movement'being limited by abutment of the pin 22 in the upper ends of the slots 23. For the purpose of convenientassembly the pin 19has a sl0t 25 extending from one end and in which the inn-erend of the spring is'engaged and anchored, the split end of the pin being engaged in substantially semicircular openings 26-26 dividedby a bar portion 27, disposed in the slot 25 and adapted to prevent turning of the pin. The other end of the pin is provided with a head 28, and a cotter pin 29 is inserted through the split end to prevent withdrawal. The upper surface 30-of the keeper engag ward the innerside of the .hood and upon engagement with the keeper'bar 31, suitably supported on the automobile structure, exerts a downward and inward pull on the hood under pressure of the spring 24;.

The catch is engaged with the keeper bar by depressing the lever and keeper engaging mg member 20 is inclined downwardly to- 1 ing it so that it rises into engagement with the memberto point Where the latter will swing beneath the keeper bar and thereupon releaskeeper bar. The arrangement of the pivot pin 21, With respect to the axis of the pin 19 and the arc of :the slot 23, is such that in any position of rotation. of the lever theangle of the surface remains the same, so that irrespective of variations in the mounting its relation to the keeper bar and its conse; quent functioning are constant.

I have illustrated and described a preferred and satisfactory embodiment of the inven tion, but it will be obvious that changes may '5. In a hood catch, a catch element and a keeper element, said catch element comprising a support, an operating lever pivotallymounted in said support, a keeper engaging member pivotally mounted on said lever and having ail engaging surface movable in a 'di rection non-parallel to a glvennhne and adapted to be moved into and out of-engagement With; said keeper through operation of saidlever, and means adapted to maintain a constant angle of said engaging surface with respect to said given line in any posit-ion of said lever.

Signed at Bridgeport, county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, this 27th day of March, 1931., r 1

. RAYMOND G. MOORE.

an engaging surface adapted to move in a direction non-parallel to a given' line to engage .the vother elementto hold the hood closed' actuating means for moving said last mentioned element into and out of'engage} ment With the other element, and means adapted to maintain a constant angle of said engaging surface with respect to said given line in any position of said actu'ating means 2.. In a hood catch, a catch element and a keeper element, one of said elements having an engaging surface adapted to move in a direction non-parallel to a given line to engage V the other element. to draw the'hood downwardly, pivoted means for moving said last mentioned element into and out of engage ment with the other element, and means adapted to-m'a'intain a constant angleof said engaging surface with respect toisaid given line inzany position of said pivoted means.

. ,3. In a hood catch, a catch element and a keeperelement, one of said'elements having an inclined engaging surface adapted to move in a direction non-parallel vto algiven line to engage the other element to draw the hood downwardly, actuating means for moving said last mentioned elementinto and out of engagement with the; other element, and means adaptedto'maintain a constant angle of said inclined engaging surface Withrespect to said given line in any position of said actuating means. V 4. In a hood catch, a catch-element and a keeper element, said' catch element comprising a support, an operating lever pivotally mounted in-said support, a'keeper'engaging member having an engaging surface movable in a direction non-parallel to a given line and adapted to be moved into and out of en'- gagementwith said keeper through operationof said: lever, and means adapted; to maintain a constant angle ofsai d engaging surface with respect to said givenjline in any i position ofrsai d; lever. 

